Lock device including stud locking u-shaped keeper

ABSTRACT

A lock case has a transverse slot formed therein receiving one leg portion of a U-shaped keeper, the remainder of the keeper extending away from the lock case with the other leg portion spaced therefrom. A stud passes through the lock case and end parts of the keeper leg portions being threadably engaged with one of the keeper leg portions. An engagement cam is pivoted by the lock into locked position received in a radial slot of the stud retaining the stud against rotation and thereby locking the parts in assembly. Lock movement of the engagement cam to an unlocked position releases the stud for rotation permitting stud and keeper disassembly.

[4 1 Aug; 20, 1974 I LOCK DEVICE INCLUDING STUD LOCKING U-SHAPED KEEPER [75] Inventor: John R. Gerlach, Monterey Park,

Calif.

[73] Assignee: Emkart Corporation, Bloomfield,

Conn.

[22] Filed: Mar. 19, I973 [21] Appl. No.: 342,733

FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 412,366 11/1945 Italy 70/33 86,275 5/1921 Austria 70/33 Primary ExaminerRobert L. Wolfe Attorney, Agent, or FirmMahoney, Schick & Cislo [57] ABSTRACT A lock case has a transverse slot formed therein receiving one leg portion of a U-shaped keeper, the remainder of the keeper extending away from the lock case with the other leg portion spaced therefrom. A stud passes through the lock case and end parts of the keeper leg portions being threadably engaged with one of the keeper leg portions. An engagement cam is pivoted by the lock into locked position received in a radial slot of the stud retaining the stud against rotation and thereby locking the parts in assembly. Lock movement of the engagement cam to an unlocked position releases the stud for rotation permitting stud and keeper disassembly.

6 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures LOCK DEVICE INCLUDING STUD LOCKING U-SI-IAPED KEEPER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a lock device including a stud locking U-shaped keeper and more particularly, to a lock device having a U-shaped keeper removably assemblable therewith by means of a projecting stud member engaging end parts of keeper legs and engagement means controlled by lock means retaining the keeper assembly. Thus, in the keeper assembly locked position, the combined keeper and stud form a locked enclosure for retaining various elements locked together. By use of the lock means to move the engage ment means'to an unlocked position, the keeper and stud member may then be disassembled for release of the various elements being retained thereby.

In past years, it had been common practice to seal the loading doors of railroad cars and truck trailers by use of light, strip metal seals which once engaged, could not be removed without a destruction of the seal. The primary purpose of this sealing procedure was to merely provide .an indication that the railroad car or truck trailer was secured, that is, that the particular cargo load therein was still intact and if the seal was found to be broken, it was then known that access to the load had been obtained and that a portion thereof might be missing. In those times, however, the incidents of seals being broken and theft of portions of the cargo load being committed were relatively unusual and somewhat incidental.

With the steadily increasing incidents of theft from carriers such as railroad cars and truck trailers, however, it has now been necessary in present times to provide greater cargo protection. For this reason, it has been necessary to turn to more secure and true locking devices. The first thoughts, of course, were the use of common padlocks, but it is found that in view of the particular locations and forms of hasps conventionally used on railroad car and truck trailer doors, a larger than usual size of padlock would be required in order to provide sufficient span for the hasps to be retained. Furthermore, it was found that the conventional forms of padlocks are relatively easily violated so that sufficient cargo protection could not be provided thereby.

OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is, therefore, an object of this invention to provide a lock device including a stud locking U-shaped keeper which is relatively easily adapted to virtually any length of span required for securing cargo carrier doors to retain the same in a secure fashion, while at the same time, is capable of accepting various lock means therein of virtually any form and of any desired degree of security. By use of a U-shaped keeper assembled with the remainder of the lock device in a unique manner, it is merely necessary to increase the spanning length of the keeper and the particular stud assembled therewith in order to adapt the overall lock device to a particular length of span with the locking concept thereof remaining virtually the same. Furthermore, the lock device of the present invention is capable of accepting locks of virtually any type and having any degree of security desired, that is, sophisticated pickproof locks or locks of lesser security and including any pin or wafer type of lock which, in the unlocked position, is capable of pivoting an engagement member.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a lock device including a stud locking U-shaped keeper wherein the U-shaped keeper is interrelated with the overall lock device in assembled position such that in disassembly of the lock device, the keeper is completely removable and may be separately assembled with the elements to be retained, such as the hasp elements of cargo carrier doors, after which, assembly of the remainder of the lock device following this keeper positioning may be easily accomplished to provide the overall security desired. As stated, the U-shaped keeper is completely removable from the remainder of the lock device in disassembly so that the keeper may be assembled through or with the elements ultimately to be locked completely independently of the remainder of the lock device. Once this initial assembly has been accomplished placing the U-shaped keeper in the desired position, it is then a simple matter to complete the assembly of the locking stud and lock means therewith with the final step being to place the lock means in its locked position securing the overall assembly and lock retaining the desired elements.

It is also an object of this invention to provide a lock device including a stud locking U-shaped keeper wherein the U-shaped keeper and its assembled locking stud form a locked enclosure with the lock means of the lock device merely securing the keeper and stud in such locked assembly so that the overall lock device assembly is of a relatively simple form, yet is one which still provides relatively inexpensive major security for cargo protection and the like. In the preferred form of the present invention, the U-shaped keeper has one leg part at the ease of the lock means assembled therewith while the remainder of the keeper including its other leg portion projects totally from the case. The locking stud has one end portion assembled with the case and otherwise also projects totally from the case through the keeper leg portions for completing the keeper and stud locked enclosure with the lock means in locked position engaging the stud preventing rotation thereof and thereby retaining the locked assembly.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following specification and the accompanying drawings which are for the purpose of illustration only.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of an embodiment of lock device incorporating the unique stud locking U- shaped keeper principles of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an end view of the lock device of FIG. 1 looking in the direction of the arrows 2-2 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an end view of the lock device of FIG. 1 looking in the direction of the arrows 3-3 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a vertical sectional view looking in the direction of the arrows 4-4 in FIG. 2 and showing the lock device in locked position;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged vertical sectional view looking in the direction of the arrows 55 in FIG. 4 and showing the lock device in locked position; and

FIG. 6 is a vertical sectional view similar to FIG. 5, but showing the lock device in unlocked position.

DESCRIPTION OF THE BEST EMBODIMENT CONTEMPLATED Referring to the drawings, an embodiment of lock device incorporating the unique stud locking U-shaped keeper principles of the present invention is illustrated and may be formed by usual manufacturing processes, all well known to those skilled in the art. Furthermore, except as hereinafter specifically pointed out, conventional and well known materials may be used for such manufacture. It is pointed out, however, that the particular embodiment illustrated and described herein is merely the preferred embodiment for illustrating the inventive principles herein involved so that such inventive principles should be broadly construed within the scope of the appended claims as hereinafter set forth.

As shown in the drawings, the lock device includes a preferably cylindrical case generally indicated at having a hollow cylindrical side wall 12 forwardly closed by a circular front wall 14 and rearwardly closed by a circular rear wall 16. Formed integral with the front wall 14 and axially threadably received within the side wall 12 is a cylindrical lock body 18 of a usual keyed, pin-type lock. In the conventional form, the lock body 18 rotatively mounts a keyed locked cylindar 20 normally blocked from rotation in the locked condition by radially movable pins 22 which are properly arranged by a key (not shown) received in a key slot 24 unlocking the locked cylindar and permitting rotation thereof by the key.

The lock cylindar 20 extends axially forwardly through the case front wall 14 in usual manner for exposing the key slot 24, and for purposes of the present invention, likewise extends rearwardly through the lock body 18, being rearwardly exposed spaced forwardly of the case rear wall 16 as best seen in FIG. 4. Rearwardly adjacent the lock body 18 is pivotal engagement means in the form of a pivotal cam 26 secured to the lock cylindar 20 for rotation therewith. The cam 26 extends transversally or radially outwardly of the lock cylindar 20 and along the lock body 18, and has a perhipheral cam surface generally indicated at 28 formed by an outward arcuate locking portion 30 and an inward arcuate unlocking portion 32, the configurations thereof being clearly shown in FIGS. 5 and 6. The cam 26 further includes a perhipheral positioning recess 34 receiving a rearwardly projecting positioning pin 36 secured in the locked body 18 so that the combination of the positioning recess and pin limit the pivotal or rotable movement of the cam 26 between locked position as shown in FIG. 5 and unlocked position as shown in FIG. 6, as will be hereinafter more clearly explained.

Rearwardly of the lock body and cylindar l8 and 20 between the cam 26 and the case rear wall 16, a determined sized keeper slot 38 is formed transversly or radially through the case side wall 12 completely diametrically thereof so as to open from diametrically opposite sides of the case side wall as best seen in FIGS. 1 and 4. The keeper slot 38 is sized to receive therein transversly or diametrically of the case 10 a first leg portion 40 of a U-shaped keeper 42 in assembled position. The U-shaped keeper 42 further includes ajoining portion 44 integral with the first leg portion 40 and extending rearwardly outward of the case 10 and case rear wall 16. The joining portion 44 of the U-shaped keeper 42 terminates rearwardly in a second leg portion 46 parallel to and preferably aligned with the first leg portion 40, but spaced rearwardly therefrom.

The final major element in the assembly of the lock device of the present invention is a stud generally indicated at 48 rotatably received extending rearwardly through the lock body 18 spaced transversly or radially of the lock cylindar 20 and through the first and second leg portions 40 and 46 of the Ushaped keeper 42. The stud 48 includes an enlarged head 50 received rearwardly within the case front wall 14 connected to a free-end portion 52 extending rearwardly through the lockbody 18, preferably freely through an opening 54 in an end part of the keeper first leg portion 40, preferably freely through an opening 56 in the case rear wall 16 and finally threadably received through a threaded opening 58 of an end part of the keeper second leg portion 46. A radially opening engagement slot 60 is formed in the stud free end portion 52 transversly or radially aligned with the cam 26, with this engagement slot preferably terminating inwardly in a segmental flat 62 which extends exactly parallel to a usual tool slot 64 in the head 50 of the stud 48, this latter alignment being for a purpose to be hereinafter described.

In illustration of the assembly for use of the lock device of the present invention, assume that the lock device is disassembled which is not shown in the drawings, that is, the lock cylindar 20 is rotated to unlock position pivoting the cam 26 to the unlocked position shown in FIG. 6 disengaged from the stud engagement slot 60. The stud 48 is threadably removed from the keeper second leg portion 46 and forwardly from the case 10. Finally, the U-shaped keeper 42 is moved transversly relative to the case 10 slideably removing the keeper first leg portion 40 from the case keeper slot 38.

The U-shaped keeper 42 may be separately engaged through elements that it is desired to lock, for instance, the hasps of a cargo carrier door (not shown). The case 10 is then reassembled with the keeper first leg portion 40 by the reception of this first leg portion transversly through the case keeper slot 38 until the opening 54 of the keeper first leg portion is aligned ready for reception of the stud 48 therethrough. The stud 48 is then inserted rearwardly through the case 10 including the keeper first leg portion 40 and ultimately is threadably engaged through the keeper second leg portion 46. In final positioning, the stud 48 is rotated to align the stud engagement slot 60 with and opening toward the cam 26, such alignment being generally shown by the tool slot 64 in the stud head 50.

The lock device is, therefore, fully assembled ready for locking. The locking operation is performed merely by rotating the lock cylindar 20 to its locked position which rotates the cam 26 into its locked position shown in FIG. 5 wherein the cam locking portion 30 is engaged in the stud engagement slot 60 closely adjacent the segmental flat 62. This will retain the stud 48 against rotation and thereby lock retain the entire lock device in the assembled condition described.

In use of the lock device of the present invention, therefore, the U-shaped keeper 42 may be completely disassembled therefrom as described for the individual and separate engagement thereof with the particular elements to be locked, after which, the lock device may be quickly reassembled and locked to retain such elements in the locked condition of the lock device. Furthermore, once the lock device has been reassembled and the lock cylindar rotated to its locked position engaging the cam 26 with the stud 48, the assembly of the case 10, U-shaped keeper 42 and stud 48 is securely retained since the cam 26 prevents disassembly rotation of the stud 48 and the engagement of the U-shaped keeper 42 through the case keeper slot 38 serves as keeper positioning means between the keeper and case retaining the keeper against rotation relative to the stud 48. Thus, according to the principles of the present invention, a conveniently usable lock device is provided which may serve relatively high security requirements, yet which is of a comparatively simple form.

In addition thereto, the lock device of the present invention is of a quite versatile form. For example, if the locking spanof the lock device is required to be increased or decreased, it is merely necessary to alter the size of the U-shaped keeper 42 by increasing or decreasing the joining portion 44 thereof. As a further example, if the security of the lock device is to be increased or may be decreased, it is merely necessary to select appropriate metals and appropriate heat treating for the fabrication thereof, as well as to choose the proper sophistication of the lock assembly therein comprised of the lock body 18 and lock cylindar 20. Greater security can be provided by the use of pickresistant locks, while lesser degrees of security will be provided by the simpler forms of locks, any of which may be conveniently assembled within the case 10 without altering the principles of the present invention.

I claim:

1. In a lock device, the combination of: a case; a generally U-shaped keeper removably assembled with said case including a first leg portion of said case, ajoining portion extending from said case, a second leg portion spaced from said case; a stud rotatably mounted in said case projecting axially therefrom and having a radially extending and radially opening slot formed therein, said stud in said keeper assembly extending axially through an end part of said keeper first leg portion and into an end part of said keeper second leg portion, said stud in said keeper assembly being threadably engaged with certain of said keeper leg portions; keeper positioning means between said case and keeper in said keeper assembly preventing rotation between said case and keeper including a slot formed in said case receiving said keeper first leg portion therein in said keeper assembly; lock means on said case including engagement means movable between locked and unlocked position, said engagement means in said locked position engaging in said stud slot preventing stud rotation and in said unlocked position releasing said stud for stud rotation.

2. A lock device as defined in claim 1 in which said stud in said keeper assembly is received axially through said case with an enlarged stud head portion axially abutting said case and a stud free end portion projecting axially through a major portion of said case and outwardly from said case, said stud free end portion extending axially through said end parts of said keeper first and second leg portions, said stud having said radially extending and radially opening slot formed in said stud free end portion.

3. A lock device as defined in claim 1 in which said stud in said keeper assembly is received axially through said case with an enlarged stud head portion axially abutting said case nd a stud free end portion projecting axially through a major portion of said case and outwardly from said case, said stud free end portion extending axially through said end parts of said keeper first and second leg portions, said stud having said radially extending and radially opening slot formed in said stud free end portion; and in which said engagement means of said lock means is a pivotal cam having a peripheral cam surface, said cam pivoting into said stud slot preventing stud rotation in said locked position and pivoting into a position out of said stud slot releasing said stud for stud rotation in said unlocked position.

4. In a lock device, the combination of: a case; a generally U-shaped keeper removably assembled with said case including a first leg portion of said case, a joining portion extending from said case, a second leg portion spaced from said case; a stud rotatably mounted in said case projecting axially therefrom, said stud in said keeper assembly extending axially through an end part of said keeper first leg portion and into an end part of said keeper second leg portion, said stud in said keeper assembly being threadably engaged with certain of said keeper leg portions; keeper positioning means between said case and keeper in said keeper assembly preventing rotation between said case and keeper; lock means on said case including engagement means movable between locked and unlocked position comprising a pivotal cam having a peripheral cam surface, said cam pivoting into engagement with said stud preventing stud rotation in said locked position and pivoting into a position disengaged from said stud releasing said stud for stud rotation in said unlocked position, stationary pin means positioned adjacent said cam peripheral cam surface limiting pivotal movement of said cam generally to extremes at and between said locked and unlocked positions.

, 5. In a lock device, the combination of: a case; a generally U-shaped keeper removably assembled with said case including a first leg portion at said case, a joining portion extending from said case, a second leg portion spaced from said case; a stud rotatably mounted in said case projecting axially therefrom said stud in said keeper assembly being received axially through said case with an enlarged stud head portion axially abutting said case and a stud free end portion projecting axially through a major portion of said case and outwardly from said case, said stud free end portion in said keeper assembly extending axially through an end part of said keeper first leg portion and into an end part of said keeper second leg portion, said stud free end portion in said keeper assembly being threadably engaged with certain of said keeper leg portions; keeper positioning means between said case and keeper in said keeper assembly preventing rotation between said case and keeper including a slot formed in said case receiving said keeper first leg portion therein in said keeper assembly; lock means on said case including engagement means movable between locked and unlocked position, said engagement means in said locked position engaging said stud preventing stud rotation and in said unlocked position releasing said stud for stud rotation.

6. In a lock device, the combination of: a case; a generally U-shaped keeper removably assembled with said case including a first leg portion of said case, a joining portion extending from said case, a second leg portion spaced from said case; a stud rotatably mounted in said case projecting axially therefrom, said stud in said said case including engagement means movable between locked and unlocked position comprising a pivotal cam having a peripheral cam surface, said cam pivoting into engagement with said stud preventing stud rotation in said locked position and pivoting into a position disengaged from said stud releasing said stud for stud rotation in said unlocked position.

, UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent N Dated August 20,

Inventor-( R.

It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as'shown below:-

-Assignee: Emhart Corporation, Bloomfield, Conn.-

Signed and sealed this 5th day of November 1974.

MCCOY M. GIBSON JR. 0. MARSHALL DANN Attesting Officer Commissioner of patents USCOMM-DC 60376-F'69 U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE: I989 0-366-334 F ORM PO-105O (10-69) 

1. In a lock device, the combination of: a case; a generally Ushaped keeper removably assembled with said case including a first leg portion of said case, a joining portion extending from said case, a second leg portion spaced from said case; a stud rotatably mounted in said case projecting axially therefrom and having a radially extending and radially opening slot formed therein, said stud in said keeper assembly extending axially through an end part of said keeper first leg portion and into an end part of said keeper second leg portion, said stud in said keeper assembly being threadably engaged with certain of said keeper leg portions; keeper positioning means between said case and keeper in said keeper assembly preventing rotation between said case and keeper including a slot formed in said case receiving said keeper first leg portion therein in said keeper assembly; lock means on said case including engagement means movable between locked and unlocked position, said engagement means in said locked position engaging in said stud slot preventing stud rotation and in said unlocked position releasing said stud for stud rotation.
 2. A lock device as defined in claim 1 in which said stud in said keeper assembly is received axially through said case with an enlarged stud head portion axially abutting said case and a stud free end portion projecting axially through a major portion of said case and outwardly from said case, said stud free end portion extending axially through said end parts of said keeper first and second leg portions, said stud having said radially extending and radially opening slot formed in said stud free end portion.
 3. A lock device as defined in claim 1 in which said stud in said keeper assembly is received axially through said case with an enlarged stud head portion axially abutting said case nd a stud free end portion projecting axially through a major portion of said case and outwardly from said case, said stud free end portion extending axially through said end parts of said keeper first and second leg portions, said stud having said radially extending and radially opening slot formed in said stud free end portion; and in which said engagement means of said lock means is a pivotal cam having a peripheral cam surface, said cam pivoting into said stud slot preventing stud rotation in said locked position and pivoting into a position out of said stud slot releasing said stud for stud rotation in said unlocked position.
 4. In a lock device, the combination of: a case; a generally U-shaped keeper removably assembled with said case including a first leg portion of said case, a joining portion extending from said case, a second leg portion spaced from said case; a stud rotatably mounted in said case projecting axially therefrom, said stud in said keeper assembly extending axially through an end part of said keeper first leg portion and into an end part of said keeper second leg portion, said stud in said keeper assembly being threadably engaged with certain of said keeper leg portions; keeper positioning means between said case and keeper in said keeper assembly preventing rotation between said case and keeper; lock means on said case including engagement means movable between locked and unlocked position comprising a pivotal cam having a peripheral cam surface, said cam pivoting into engagement with said stud preventing stud rotation in said locked position and pivoting into a position disengaged from said stud releasing said stud for stud rotation in said unlocked position, stationary pin means positioned adjacent said cam peripheral cam surface limiting Pivotal movement of said cam generally to extremes at and between said locked and unlocked positions.
 5. In a lock device, the combination of: a case; a generally U-shaped keeper removably assembled with said case including a first leg portion at said case, a joining portion extending from said case, a second leg portion spaced from said case; a stud rotatably mounted in said case projecting axially therefrom said stud in said keeper assembly being received axially through said case with an enlarged stud head portion axially abutting said case and a stud free end portion projecting axially through a major portion of said case and outwardly from said case, said stud free end portion in said keeper assembly extending axially through an end part of said keeper first leg portion and into an end part of said keeper second leg portion, said stud free end portion in said keeper assembly being threadably engaged with certain of said keeper leg portions; keeper positioning means between said case and keeper in said keeper assembly preventing rotation between said case and keeper including a slot formed in said case receiving said keeper first leg portion therein in said keeper assembly; lock means on said case including engagement means movable between locked and unlocked position, said engagement means in said locked position engaging said stud preventing stud rotation and in said unlocked position releasing said stud for stud rotation.
 6. In a lock device, the combination of: a case; a generally U-shaped keeper removably assembled with said case including a first leg portion of said case, a joining portion extending from said case, a second leg portion spaced from said case; a stud rotatably mounted in said case projecting axially therefrom, said stud in said keeper assembly extending axially through an end part of said keeper first leg portion and into an end part of said keeper second leg portion, said stud in said keeper assembly being threadably engaged with certain of said keeper leg portions; keeper positioning means between said case and keeper in said keeper assembly preventing rotation between said case and keeper including a slot formed in said case receiving said keeper first leg portion therein in said keeper assembly; lock means on said case including engagement means movable between locked and unlocked position comprising a pivotal cam having a peripheral cam surface, said cam pivoting into engagement with said stud preventing stud rotation in said locked position and pivoting into a position disengaged from said stud releasing said stud for stud rotation in said unlocked position. 